Angola – increase in poaching in Cuanza Norte

Poaching is gaining proportions in the Cuanza-Norte Province, due mainly to
the extreme poverty that plagues many families, unemployment, lack of
information on the importance of fauna and flora, and the reduced number of
inspectors of the Forest Development Institute.

This information was presented by the provincial director of the Office of
Agriculture and Forestry, Walter Demba during the first meeting on Combat
to Stealth, held on the weekend in the city of Ndalatando.

According to the document the poaching is developed mostly by young people
without occupation. “We are concerned about the disappearance of some
species of animals from poaching. The offenders, perhaps due to
misinformation, even hunt in the period of animal reproduction, which runs
from January 1 to July 31,” he deplored.

Walter Demba said that along the national roads linking the provinces of
Luanda, Malange, U?ge and the south of the country, there are heaps of
animals slaughtered to be marketed. “Poachers prefer to kill deer, seixas,
pacas, boars, monkeys, hamsters, galinholas and partridges, including
elephants,” he said.

“In order to reverse the current situation,” Walter Demba said,
“Legislative Bill No. 6/17 was established, which establishes the norms
that guarantee the conservation, rational and sustainable use of forests
and wildlife in all national territory, which continues to wait for its
approval”.

In the meantime, pending the approval of this law, joint measures are being
taken between the Forest Development Institute (IDF) and the National
Police Provincial Command, who are trained in the collection of weapons
illegally owned by hunters.

The head of the Office of Agriculture and Forestry in Cuanza-Norte reported
that poaching in Africa accounts for between USD 15 and 20 billion,
affecting around 25,000 jobs, with a higher incidence of ivory trade in
elephants, and horns of rhinoceroses.

When intervening in the event, the provincial commander of the Public
Order, deputy commissioner Gaspar da Silva, called on hunters to register
hunting guns at a police station “in order to avoid possible complications
or even arrest for illegal possession of a weapon.”

Participants at the Meeting on Combatting Poaching recommended greater
dissemination of the Law on Forest and Wildlife Protection, so that hunters
meet their obligations.